Avoid Tech Health Traps

Muscle Pain

Why it happens Mouse-related carpal tunnel is so 20th century. Today's aches stem from too-frequent texting or emailing on phones with small screens and tiny keys. "People unknowingly brace themselves, tightening their neck and shoulders, to ensure accuracy while typing," says Erik Peper, Ph.D., professor at San Francisco State University.

How to prevent it Release tension by taking quick breaks between messages to roll your neck and raise and lower your shoulders. Do each exercise three or four times. Repeat as needed.

Hearing Loss

Why it happens iPod addicts, listen up (if you can still hear us). Noise louder than 85 decibels—equivalent to standing on the side of a busy street—can permanently damage our ears, yet in order to hear our tunes above the din of mass transit, or noisy coworkers, we turn up the volume too much, says Craig Kasper, an audiologist in New York City.

How to prevent it To save your ears, set your iPod volume bar below 70 percent, particularly if listening for more than an hour. When at your desk or on an airplane or train, use sound-isolating earphones to block out surrounding noise.

Car Accidents

Why it happens "Using electronic devices behind the wheel can be a distraction and may slow your reaction time," says José Alberto Uclés, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And it's not merely texting and driving that don't mix. Using a GPS can also be dangerous. Drivers may weave or slam on the brakes more often without realizing it.

How to prevent it Stay safe by programming your device in advance. This gives you time to review the route before you're on the highway and confused about whether you should take exit 19 or 19A.

Radiation Exposure

Why it happens Most of us can't imagine ditching our cell phone, but some studies suggest that the radiation it produces could be putting us at an increased risk for brain cancer and other health problems, says Devra Davis, Ph.D., a toxicologist in Jackson, Wyoming. For now, the FDA reports that the research linking the two is still inconclusive.

How to prevent it Reduce your exposure by using Bluetooth devices to increase the distance between the phone and your head, Davis says. And keep your cell in your purse, not your pocket, to further lower the amount of radiation you come into contact with.